Car-coupling



(No Model.)

G. N. MOATS. GAR COUPLING. No. 395,988. Patented Jan. 1889.

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N. PETERS. PhowL'nhographer. Washington. a c

J] I INVENTOR" I '7 7ZW7/0W GEORGE N. MOATS, OF IRONTON, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,988, dated January 8, 1889. Application filed May 7, 1888. Serial No. 273,129. (No model.)

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.LO all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. MOATS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ironton, in the county of Lawrence and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- aot description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to car-couplers; and theobject thereof is to provide an effective device that shall be entirely free from danger to the operator, and one that can be easily operated by the foot and applicable alike to passenger or platform cars and box-cars.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ an automatic device (which can also be operated by hand or foot) consisting of a hook or latch pivoted in each coupling-head on both ends of the car, and also uncoupling by means of a vertical lever connected at its lower end to a horizontally-pivoted curved bar, the free end of which is weighted, being so constructed that it comes in contact with the hook or latch and raises it when the vertical lever is depressed. This uncoupling is always effected froin the platform or roof of the car, thus obviatin g the danger to life which always exists when the coupling or uncoupling is effected by a blillCOlllfl-ll while standing between the cars.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by dotted line .r 011 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the coupling-heads.

A represents the coupling hook or latch, pivoted loosely at the rear ends upon the shaft 0, which is fixed in the walls of the couplinghead. The hook ends of each coupling-latch are beveled on their under sides in such a manner that when they come in contact with the shafts 0 they will ride up and over the same and couple onto the shafts, each coupling-hook engaging the shaft upon which the opposite coupling-hook is pivoted.

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D is a vertical depressing-lever pivotally connected at its lower end to a horizontal centrally-pivoted curved and weighted striking bar or lever, E. The lever has on its front edge two or more curved notches, a, so constructed as to catch upon a keeper, 1?, provided on the inside of the jaws of the coupling-head, which holds the vertical lever in place, and through it and the pivoted weighted bar E the coupling-hook A or latch is held at a convenient elevation to ride above the shaft 0, or still higher, if necessary.

The weighted pivoted lever E has a superposed piece, Z), which prevents the hook from becoming displaced sidewise and acts as a guide, and so directs each coupling-hook that it will ride up over the superposed piece constructed on the upwardly-curved portion of the pivoted striker 011 the opposite couplinghead, so that when the cars are coupled the coupling-hooks lie side by side and both hooks will engage the shafts C, and thus the coupling will have double strength over the coupling by a single bar.

If the horizontal lever E be entirely disengaged from the keeper 1), the outwardly-pivoted end of the curved horizontally-pivoted striker will be thrown upward by the weighted forward end of the same until it comes in contact with the shaft 0, and the coupling-hook A will not be depressed too far to ride up onto the opposite curved bar E and over the guide I), and thus engage the shaft and couple automatically. The coupling of cars is thus always effected automatically.

The coupling-head and draw-bar F are integral, and maybe cast in one piece or in two pieces divided vertically their length and riveted together. The latter method enables me to adjust the shaft, keeper, &c., with greater ease. On the top of each vertical lever I construct any convenient foothold or treadle. The coupling-bar has a downward curve midway its distance, so that it is more readily acted 011 by the striker or horizontal lever which effects its elevation.

Having thus described my coupler, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The within-described automatic car-coupler, comprising a gravitating coupling-hook,

1116 shaft .llci'n'oon Th0 jaws of the vonplinghead on which said hook m'i'i('rnlzitos, a vertival deprossing-lovor notched as described, the keeper for this lover, and a gravitati'ng striking 'lmr or lover provided with a superposed piece, I), and pivoted To 1110 said (loprossinglover, all substantially as set 'ifori'h.

2. The combination,with coupling-head, oi? a curved grzn'iltating coupling-Nook, a transverse shaft, C, a loaded striking liar or lover, E,

To which this hook is pivoi'od, provided. 

